A-chama's Art

[A-chama]

I unno how much I'll post here bit I figure if anything interesting happens in rps I join I might sketch it out.. and doodles of my ocs. So I thought I might as well make a thread..

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r122/A-chama/casinover0001.png

That's Verloren ^ he might come up fairly often in various incarnations because he's one of the main ocs I like to rp. So I might litter this thread with pictures of him.

[Nemesis]

Well, it seems you are getting off to a good start & have a particular interest in illustrating your original characters! Great, I do too. In fact my avatar, profile, & the not so impressive wolf in my signature pictures are all my own original renders with more things in my albums on my profile page.

I will say, if you don't now, try to start drawing & writing very lightly with pens & pencils. It will help you along further down the line develop line control in your wrist & hand. Heavy pressure is not needed on fine paper, or any paper for that matter. =D Plus it makes erasing sooo very easier when you have alterations that are needed.

Also, try to incorporate a basic block/bubble frame work or skeleton for your characters so they will be even while you render them. This illustration is executed well around the upper portion but gets rough towards the characters arms & hands, along the lower torso too. A simple bubble frame to familiarize yourself with the entire body is a very good step & will make your characters become more alive.

Please continue drawing, its always going to be an uphill battle so never settle for what you can do right now, aim for better.

[A-chama]

Yeah I prefer drawing my characters over using stock art or other peoples art in general :/

Haha I think the wolf is boss really! I can only draw Cat fish and swans properly XD

I'll let you in on a little secret the picture is actually a lot lighter . I just tampered it on photoshop so it would look darker ( because otherwise you couldn't really see the it at all)

BUT on everything else yeah you're absolutely right my anatomy is really awful :/ and well feet/hands they are pretty much the bane of my existence. But yes, practice will hopefully let me improve on all of that XD

[Nemesis]

First let me thank you for enjoying my wolf sketch. It was a fun little adventure. But I would have liked to have rendered it better & I will next time I go about it.

Now I didn't say anywhere your anatomy is aweful... I did say the composition got rough lower on down the page & what I am sure you would enjoy improving upon.

Hands & feet are very expressive, like a character's facial features, they too convey lots of emotions. Some people place no value upon them & dodge illustrating them at all, in favor of portrait shots & head details. In fact, any artist that has really worked on improving their dynamic understanding of anatomy will admit hands are very hard, with feet being perhaps the hardest to illustrate. Just like different faces, every part of our bodies are individuals too, & while sharing the similar idea of fingers & toes, all are very different looking from person to person.

It's one of those things you will pay attention to in life about people. While I do not attempt to create realistic people in my art, I do pay attention to the people around me everyday & always ask myself critical questions about why I am attracted to some features above others. Fingers are different lengths as are toes in comparison to a hand & foot as well as to each other.

Really paying attention & observing people, magazines, other artists, classy & tasteful nudes or models, & even naughty pictures will allow a different understanding of anatomy & human structure. It does pay to collect lots of reference materials & explore what excites your interests in other peoples work, anime/manga, cartoons & comics, paintings, & sculptures. Every artist I know has put in serious work every possible day & hours at a time. Just consider how serious you are about improvement with your own technique before being too hard on yourself. =D. Often times its the smallest alteration to your perceptions that change how good your next render will be.

[A-chama]

Oh I do wish I could draw feet and hands better. It's frustrating not being able to draw something the way you want to OTL And I'd like to be able to draw more dynamic things I find it boring doing just straight shots. Though that's another problem altogether ( perspective >__> that's also pretty hard otl)

Yeah tutorials are my firend for that reason. I've found out over the years they actually really help. I need to look more up. Though of course finding refences and people watching are also a good way to learn more about anatomy and the like.

Usually when I do bigger projects I'll go on posemanics. I draw everyday ( I have a sketch book or paper at all times) I'd go crazy otherwise I think.

But I still want to improve more obviously :/ It's just not satisfying when it doesn't turn out the way I want D<

[Nemesis]

Ahhh. When it doesn't turn out the way you want is the best time to force yourself to start again with that defeat fresh in heart & in your mind. It's what will drive you forward to excel again & again. While a setback, place the picture you are not satisfied with next to the fresh sheet & look over where you see success & try to build off of that. Having the image you rendered & were not happy with at hand will act as a positive reinforcement on the mistakes not to make in your next composition as you go along.

Trust me about using loosely rounded or squared shapes when constructing your forms before filling in the details. Those loose shapes make a skeleton/frame for you to build over & make all kinds of perspectives so much easier. How about this. Begin drawing at minimum 3 full pages of characters, sketches, designs everyday & start with a warm up for about 10 minutes or so. Scan & post them here so you can get better while citing what sources you are using for inspiration or referencing so we can all pitch in. Posting more pictures will help build confidence in showing your work. Your success at art means another strong artist here willing to illustrate in RPs which is a win for us all.

About dynamics of hands & feet, do not sweat about it yet. Find away to illustrate them all the time though & never decide upon being complacent with one success. Drawing multiple angles & different motions familiarizes yourself with the subject & will grant you better understanding of it. Hands & feet are very complex & hard to realistically illustrate & hard to also simplify into basic line art... But it is very possible.

Be patient with yourself & once you do feel frustration start to set in, take a break & try again in a hour or two, or settle on finishing up what you can for the day, & start again tomorrow with a different angle & renewed vigor. I have been there before & I am hitting those walls again now. I am not a professional artist, but I do have the experience of decades at our craft. Many compliments & insults have helped me along as well as being a mentor to quite a few other individuals & my step kids. Art is not easy, in fact it can be difficult. But the rewards of a completed project will make you feel great, especially when you realize you truely have impressed someone with your capabilities & they are not playing nice with you. Keep burning the pencils & paper up with effort till you see progress, save all your work for reference, & be kind to yourself.

[A-chama]

Hahah yeah I've always taken the attitude that practice makes perfect. At least I try.

I think that my one sketch might not be a good enough idea of my skills. So I will post a few more. Though as you did note ( it's pretty easy to tell from that sketch I guess) Below torso I'm not so good yet.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r122/A-chama/nepeta0001.png
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r122/A-chama/wonderlandteacups0001.png
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r122/A-chama/rose0002.png
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r122/A-chama/birthday0002.png
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r122/A-chama/vernew0001-2.png]
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r122/A-chama/ocs0001.png

well I'll post more as I draw though with Nanowrimo this month I'll probably be mostly busy with that. Not that that stops me from drawing, only I won't be drawing quite that much. Since it's pretty much School/Nano/Rp/Art. Priorities? I should probably get them straight I know XD

THOUGH me and my friend are doing a collab for another group I'm in so I might show that here once it's done.

[Nemesis]

Hey those are good! I am glad to see more of your work. I used to love doing collaborations with my friends, but it has been a long while since then. It seems like you have everything under control & know exactly what you are aiming for so I won't bog you down with anymore useless coaching. Love seeing new images, so please keep fresh ones coming, keep up the good work, & I will see you soon!

[Kris]

Lovely stuff =D

[A-chama]

@Nemesis Thanks XD and thank you for all the advice I really appreciate anything that can help me improve artwise. Especially since I do want to go into designing.

Yeah collabs are a lot of fun! I think they―re a bit tougher to manage then regualr art but they're worth it when you have the time.

@Kris Thanks a lot I'm glad you like it : D

[Insomnant]

Awww, that mermaid is adorable! (rawr) You did a great job on the shading too and, while simple, the background is still lovely with nicely fluffy clouds. :)

I like the teacup one as well, quality stuff! Please do continue sharing if you happen to draw more~

[A-chama]

Thanks everyone I'm glad you like my art >w<b I still have a lot to work on but I guess that's hwy I keep drawing XDDDD

Here's something new I just finished and I'm actually pretty happy with! It's some fanart for homestuck.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r122/A-chama/rose.png

[Kris]

Post more =D

[A-chama]

Sure hmmm this is a work in progress hence why it looks so weird at the moment XD I,m actually trying to figure out how the wave thing is going to go XD It's going to be a design for a shirt. Specifically one of my friend's Christmas presents XD

[http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r122/A-chama/prewip.png

I<ll post the finished product ( at least the image anyway)

[A-chama]

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r122/A-chama/presentdone.png
there it's the finished from the work in progress above. It's going to be going on a shirt ( though I'm cutting around the white edge.

In the bubble is some newfoundlander saying XD